EUROPEAN construction firms could be tempted to build a health centre in Coventry in a Private Finance Initiative deal similar to the Walsgrave super-hospital.

Adverts have been placed nationally and in European journals in a bid to attract a private sector partner to the #2.5 million Tile Hill replacement project.

Bosses at Coventry Healthcare NHS Trust, who are behind the scheme to redevelop the Jardine Crescent centre, want to move the development forward but are aware that small PFI bids for community facilities are rare.

Peter Boileau, chief executive of the trust, which manages all the city's community-based services outside of the acute hospitals, said: "We are going to have to go down the PFI route and we are looking at what that means. We are breaking new ground here.

"We have to find ways in which we can make the bid attractive because there are none of the support services to run which you might find with a larger scheme such as the super-hospital."

Colin Merker, director for the trust, said: "We would like to get a private sector partner on board within 12 to 24 months.

"We are clear on what we want to deliver and what it might cost. And we are clear on how the centre could be delivered on that site.

"What we have now got to do is go out and attract a private sector partner to deliver that with us.

"One of the ways in which we could make the project attractive is by demonstrating the centre has a future. It is not just an isolated GPs surgery but something which meets the health needs of the population and will do so for a long time.

"But the private sector will also let us know what makes the deal attractive for them. We have had some preliminary interest and will be sending out further details to those companies."

The health centre's services would include district nursing, health visitors, dentistry and mental health services as well as pulling together the local GP practices. Treatment clinics would also be held.

The favourite site is the current Jardine Crescent location but the trust is aware a private sector partner might offer an alternative site.